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Battle of the Sexes: Defend Your Gender

Can you really outrun the opposite gender and defend your own? Challenge the opposite sex in your age category, in one race venue, one finish line, and one distance. Let the females run ahead in 7 to 10 minutes and see if you can still outrun them. A first of its kind from Sofitel Luxury Hotels and RunRio Inc. Check the details below and register now!



What: Sofitel - RunRio's Battle of the Sexes: Defend Your Gender

When: 26th January 2013 Saturday, 9:00 PM

Where: Mall of Asia, Pasay City



Distance and Registration Fees:

  • 10K - Php 800.00

Start of Registration: 21st December 2012



Registration Centers:

  1. Riovana Katipunan - 3rd Floor Regis Center, Katipunan, Quezon City (infront of ADMU)

  2. Riovana BGC - 28th Street corner 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City

  3. Toby's Trinoma

  4. Toby's Mall of Asia

Race Bib:



Singlet Design:



Race Route:



Categories:

  1. 16 & below

  2. 17 - 24

  3. 25 - 29

  4. 30 - 34

  5. 35 - 39

  6. 40 - 44

  7. 45 - 49

  8. 50 - 54

  9. 55 - 59

  10. 60 & above

Reminders:

  • Registration may end earlier than announced deadline.

  • A Valid ID must be presented upon registration. For group registration, a photocopy of any valid ID must be presented by the representative.

  • Singlet size availability will be on a first come first serve basis.

  • A timing device will be used by all participants during the race.

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Amway Fun Run 2013

Have you ever wished there was a race where you can measure how fast you can go, not just on how far you can go? Wait no more and register for this fun run of Amway that will benefit the One-by-One campaign to support the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Program and at the same time a great opportunity for you to start a convenient business for just Php 1,000.00.







The fun run will have a distance where you can test your speed for 1K, and for those who's aiming to go a little further, a 5K distance also awaits you. Check out the details below.



What: 1K @ Amway Fun Run 2013

When: 12 January Saturday, 5:00 AM

Where: CCP Complex, Manila

Other Venues (tentative dates):


  1. Cagayan De Oro - 26 January 2013

  2. Baguio - 02 February 2013

  3. Davao - 09 February 2013

  4. Cebu - 16 February 2013


Beneficiary: Amway One-by-One campaign for Children

The AMWAY ONE BY ONE CAMPAIGN is implemented around the world to make a difference in the lives of children in every market where the company conducts business. Since ONE BY ONE® launched in 2003, AMWAY FOR CHILDREN® program has been rallying the resources of Amway distributors and providing hope and opportunity to 9.5 million children and having donated more than $166 million to children's causes worldwide.



Distance and Registration Fees:


  • 1K - Php 595.00

  • 5K - Php 595.00


*For IBOs: Buy Nutrilite daily foil pack, get 1K@Amway Race Kit for FREE!



Registration Centers:


  1. Online through Amway's Facebook App

  2. ADC Makati & Experience Center - ACE Bldg. 101-103 GF, Rada St. Legaspi Vill., Makati City (Tel No. (02)840-2228 / 840-2249 / 840-2209 / 893-0571 / Fax No. (02) 840-2270)

  3. ADC Shaw Boulevard - GF Sun Plaza Bldg., Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City (Tel No. (02)571-7161 to 62 / Fax No. (02) 571-7533)






Route Map:









Event Press Release:


“We have always believed in the capabilities and potential of Filipinos in creating better lives for themselves and their families through the available business opportunities presented to them. We at Amway understand the value of more inclusive growth through entrepreneurship where Filipinos are given their own tools of productivity to generate wealth. We are very optimistic about 2013 as we continue to offer more opportunities for Filipinos with the introduction of our 1K@Amway Fun Run 2013 that will be held in Pasay City,” said Leni Olmedo, Country Manager, Amway Philippines.



According to Olmedo, business opportunities like these can contribute to a greater impact in the economy and a steady growth of revenue for the business industry in the country. “The Philippines is enjoying a strong and vibrant economic growth and we are making sure that there is a level playing field for everybody by doing direct selling the right way with Amway. Providing more means for the people to earn money and create better lives for themselves will help strengthen the economy and industry in the Philippines,” she said.



Meanwhile, Dulce Ricafort, Marketing Manager of Amway Philippines, also shared how Amway’s products like Nutrilite and Artistry have tremendously created means for Filipinos and Amway’s Independent Business Owners (IBOs) to engage in doing direct selling the right way with the company.



“Two of our leading and strongest brands in the Philippines are Nutrilite and Artistry. Nutrilite is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest and process plants on their own certified organic farms.* This means that Nutrilite uses only the most painstaking sustainable organic principles on farming, and takes total control every step of the way by relying on Good Manufacturing Processes to deliver quality, safety and efficacy from seed to serving. Here in the country, Nutrilite’s goal of promoting optimal health is embodied by its brand ambassador – multi-awarded actor, sought-after model and champion swimmer, Enchong Dee,” Ricafort said.



Artistry, on the other hand, is our facial skin care and color cosmetics brand that is among the world’s top five, largest-selling, prestige brands of facial skincare and colour cosmetics.** All our products are safe for the environment,” she added.



“We also focus on emerging segments in the market right now and we have recently introduced our Achievers Premium Cocoa Mix by Figaro, as well as Carnival, Amway’s own line of perfume. We will have the booths and stations of our Amway brands in the 1K@Amway Fun Run to raise more awareness on the business opportunities Amway has to offer,” she mentioned.



Aside from the business opportunities being made available by Amway, Olmedo also clarified that the company is not just about doing business. It makes sure that corporate social responsibility is embedded into all its initiatives, core business strategy, and operations. Highlighting Amway’s One by One Campaign for Children, Olmedo says that “We have many plans to further expand our program as well as support DepEd in its aim to further strengthen education and make it more accessible to the children. We are very happy to have partnered with DepEd to reach more children and provide them a chance to learn more through our One by One program. We will continue to reinforce our commitment,” Olmedo shared.

For more information, you may visit Amway's website and learn more about their One-by-One Campaign, or you may also check-out their Facebook fanpage.
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Run for 10



What: TEN Moves' Nationwide Run for 10

When: 13 January 2012 Sunday, 5:00AM

Where: Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City

Other Venues:


  1. Butuan

  2. Cagayan De Oro

  3. Cebu

  4. Dipolog

  5. Dumaguete

  6. Legazpi

  7. Pampanga

  8. Tarlac

  9. Zamboanga

  10. Zamboanga Sibugay


Beneficiaries:

TEN Moves' construction of Classrooms throughout the Philippines



Distance and Registration Fees (starts on 20 December 2012):


  • 2.5K - Php 200.00

  • 5K - Php 400.00

  • 10K - Php 500.00


Registration Centers:

T-Shirt Project - Glorietta, Trinoma, Market! Market!







Excerpts from Press Release:


“Run for 10” will be staged for the benefit of TEN Moves!, the social mobilization campaign of Bayanihang Pampaaralan that seeks to raise funds for the construction of 10,000 classrooms nationwide by encouraging individuals to donate Php10 everyday for 10 months or a lump sum of Php3,000.



“Run for 10 is a way for us to significantly ramp up support and donations for TEN Moves!,” explains Rapa Lopa, Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress and one of the primary movers of TEN Moves! and the 57-75 Education Reform Movement. “Through this event, we hope to attract more and more Filipinos, especially the younger ones, to be part of our advocacy of helping build classrooms and a brighter future for schoolchildren.”



“Since we launched in October 2011, TEN Moves! and its mother campaign, Bayanihang Pampaaralan, have raised funding for nearly 3,000 classrooms,” explains Mario Deriquito, Senior Director of Ayala Foundation and another primary mover of TEN Moves!. “While our collective efforts to date have been commendable, we still have a long way to go in reaching our goal of 10,000 classrooms, and we are finding ways to reach our goal within two years since launching. Through Run for 10, we hope to be able to create more awareness and generate more anticipation for this cause.”



Run for 10 expects to gather 2,500 Filipinos in Metro Manila alone who will lace up their running shoes and make their move for education. The Department of Education, a key partner in the TEN Moves! advocacy, welcomes the initiative.



“TEN Moves! has shown to us just what the Filipino youth can do,” says Br. Armin Luistro FSC, Secretary of the Department of Education. “Run for 10 further harnesses their energy and desire to make the Philippines a better place to live and learn. With everyone’s participation, we are confident that we can finally resolve the classroom backlog by 2013, and provide adequate facilities for students everywhere.”

For more information, visit: www.tenmoves.org
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WFP National Ambassador KC Concepcion Visits Families Affected by Typhoon Pablo



United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) National Ambassador Against Hunger KC Concepcion (second from left) recently visited families affected by Typhoon Pablo who are staying at the evacuation centers in the municipalities of Compostela and New Bataan in Compostela Valley province. During her visit, KC also distributed relief packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which include complementary rations of WFP high-energy biscuits and iron-fortified rice. With her were DSWD XI Regional Director Priscilla Nidea-Razon (leftmost) and WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Stephen Anderson (second from right).

Prior to the distribution, KC interacted with internally displaced people and assured them that government, WFP, and many organizations are working around the clock to help them get back on their feet.

WFP National Ambassador KC Concepcion distributes DSWD relief packs

Photo Credit: WFP/Peter Caton/Philippines

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

WFP now provides RSS feeds to help journalists keep up with the latest press releases, videos and photos as they are published on WFP.org. For more details see: http://www.wfp.org/rss

Twitter: @wfp_media
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Torque Offers the Best of Technology – Pinoy MEDIA Style

Pinoy brand TORQUE, aims to level up the mobile phone landscape for Filipino users with its new Torque MEDIA Technology. With this technology applied across its entire product line-up including entry-level models, every Juan can now enjoy “MUSIC-ALL-U-CAN, MOVIES-ALL-U-CAN” features at its finest for as low as Php 688 only.

How? Each Torque MEDIA series phone can have expandable external memory upto 32GB as compared to a mere 2GB of its rivaling foreign brand competitors. To boot, a 3.5mm Headset Jack is at bay for audio enthusiasts who wants nothing but the best of sound quality as they can now plug in their preferred pair of headphones. Another function improved here is Customization. End users can personalize not only their wallpapers or ringtones, but also their message tones & SIM names (since it is dual SIM, it is confusing to just see SIM1 or SIM2) set to each specific operator names.

SMS Sent items folder and Video Recording will now be a standard for Torque MEDIA series alongside the camera as this feature is normally not present in other brands’ low tier devices. Torque MEDIA is surely a hit with all Pinoy Audio/Video Enthusiasts. Thus, making communications more affordable and convenient for consumers; and makes it exciting that every Juan will want to have it.

Torque Now

D5 Chic Red
D9 Jolly Blue
DQ10 TV Speed Red
DROIDZ Flash

At present, Torque offers its D5, D9, DQ10 TV, DTV20, i18 Fad, 177 Click, and Droidz Flash. All products (Except for DROIDZ Flash) are with dual SIM capability with features that are consumer-focused, plus sold at very affordable price points. As part of the Torque MEDIA lineup, all mobile handsets include an FM radio capability, camera with video recorder, multimedia player, expandable memory up to 32GB and 3.5mm headset included.

D5 and D9 models, dubbed as ‘TRUE MUSIC/MOVIES PHONE’, feature a large 1.8” 65k color display, VGA camera, sent items folder, torchlight, and easy music keys for music/movies lovers’ convenience.

For Text Addicts, who opt to use QWERTY instead of keypad, Torque offers the DQ10 TV. With its Mobile TV, 1.3 megapixel camera, large 2.4” TFT display, plus a 3.5mm headset jack, DQ10 TV suits your entertainment-all-you-want mode. DQ10 TV also features WAP 2.0/ GPRS/ MMS/ STK.

DTV20 Prestige Silver

Love a bigger screen for TV viewing? One can check out Torque’s DTV20, which has a large & clear 2.4” 262K QVGA LCD, and 2-megapixel camera. Connectivity is also not a problem with its Bluetooth capability and WAP 2.0/ GPRS/ SMS/ MMS feature.

i18 Fad Sporty Red
i77 Click Sleek Black

Touch & Feel. There’s i18 Fad that has 2.8” full touchscreen and i77 Click with 3.2” full touchscreen. Both have dual mode text input, which means users can select between using its virtual QWERTY and virtual 4x3 keypad, Bluetooth, Wireless FM radio, and Mobile TV. Camera is a plus here as i18 Fad sports a 1.3-megapixel camera while i77 Click boasts a 3-megapixel camera. Connectivity features include WAP 2.0/ GPRS/ SMS/ MMS/ STK for i18 Fad while JAVA/ WAP 2.0/ GPRS/ SMS/ MMS/ STK for i77 Click.

Surf, Social Networks, Games? Torque offers the very sought-after Droidz Flash. 7.0” WVGA 800x480 Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch Zoom, Slim form factor, 3-Axis Gyro/Accelerometer matched with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS for a refined interface and easy access that is more engaging and interesting. Running at 1.2 GHz CPU with 4GB ROM and 512 MB RAM, Droidz Flash is your best mate when it comes to functions, power, and connectivity. It is also equipped with dual cameras with 2-megapixel rear camera and VGA front camera. With your Favorite Movies accessible via mini-USB or Micro-SD, plug in your 3.5mm Stereo Headset and enjoy Full-HD 1080p video experience, all movies are now ready for your enjoyment. Connect via Wi-Fi or your preferred 3G USB stick allows you true internet freedom on-the-go.

Torque Next

E2 Active Blue
i78 Stream Storm Black

Full understanding of the market always needs something fresh – design and functionality-wise, so Torque proudly embraces Pinoy Pride to the Next! It showcases 2 new models under Torque MEDIA Technology…the Most Affordable E2 & the All-In-1 Capacitive Touch i78 Stream.

E2 fits the consumer who simply wants to enjoy his/her dual roles in life – dual SIM. It features a large 1.8” 65K color display, multimedia player, FM radio, loud speaker, FM radio with headset, sent items folder, and Micro-SD up to 32GB. Bluetooth is a plus for those who want to transfer data. All this for just Php 688!

The All-In-1 i78 Stream comes with a large 4.0” HVGA display, capacitive touchscreen, 320X480 Widget-based UI, and a dual mode text input of QWERTY and keypad. You can use surf the net using the Wi-Fi and be connected using its WAP 2.0/ GPRS/ MMS/ STK. The i78 Stream also includes Mobile TV, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a multimedia player.

Torque’s New DROIDZ Flex Technology for Android now ushers in to provide Faster, More Powerful Yet Affordable Android devices for the demanding Filipino users who wants more out of Android. Such technology will now be implemented on Torque’s new DROIDZ Series such as DROIDZ Sport, DROIDZ Force, DROIDZ Atom, DROIDZ Blast, DROIDZ Motion, DROIDZ Life, DROIDZ Portal & DROIDZ Ultimate.

DROIDZ Force White
DROIDZ Sport White

For the budget-conscious Dual SIM Android lovers, Torque offers the compact DROIDZ Sport and 9.5mm-slim DROIDZ Force with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and runs at 1GHZ CPU. So remarkable here are the screen sizes as DROIDZ Sport features an efficient 3.5” HVGA 480x320 Capacitive Touch Display while DROIDZ Force features a bigger 4.0” WVGA 800x480 Capacitive Touch Display. DROIDZ Sport having 512MB ROM and 256 RAM while Droidz Force using 512 MB ROM and 512 MB RAM. These two models are Dual SIM, 3MP camera, goes with 3.5mm stereo headset, FM radio, multimedia player, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, G-sensor and internet connection via JAVA/EDGE.

DROIDZ Atom
DROIDZ Blast

Seeking for More Powerful & Faster Processing DROIDZ? Torque answers this market demand with 4 new Dual SIM-Dual Core DROIDZ Smartphones. All the series models run at 1GHz Dual Core CPU with 4GB ROM and 512MB RAM. Its superior interface uses the advanced Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS, has Multi-Touch Zoom, 3.5mm stereo headset, FM radio, Micro-USB port, Light/Proximity/Gravity Sensors. Enjoy Global Roaming & Faster Connectivity as the series models support 3.5G HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100MHz at DL 7.2Mbps/UL 5.76Mbps, Quadband GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz. All models support Dual cameras with 8-megapixel rear with LED Flash and VGA front camera. Other features include Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Tethering, GPS and AGPS Support.

DROIDZ Motion
DROIDZ Life

Choose among the newest Large Display Pinoy DROIDZ series: the affordable DROIDZ Atom with 4.0” WVGA 800x480 Capacitive Touch, or the corporate DROIDZ Blast with 4.7” qHD 960x540 Capacitive Touch, or the Note-like DROIDZ Motion with 5.3” qHD 960x540 Capacitive Touch, or the massive DROIDZ Life with 6.0” FWVGA 854x480 Capacitive Touch.

What Torque is more excited to launch is its DROIDZ Portal and DROIDZ Ultimate Tablets. These two models have Call and Text features, JAVA/SMS/MMS capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Tethering, GPS and AGPS Support, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Micro-USB port, and Light/Proximity/Gravity Sensors.

DROIDZ Portal

DROIDZ Portal runs at 1GHZ Dual Core CPU with 4GB ROM and 512 RAM. With its 7.0” WSVGA 1024x600 Capacitive Touchscreen, and a multi-touch zoom, users will sure to enjoy Droidz Portal’s interface that uses Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Users will also be delighted with its speed and bandwidth as it uses HSDPA 7.2Mbps/HSUPA 5.76 Mbps and 3.5G HSDPA 850/900/2100MHZ. Droidz Portal also features dual cameras with its rear camera using 8-megapixel with LED Flash while its front uses VGA camera.

DROIDZ Ultimate

DROIDZ Ultimate powered by 1GHZ Dual Core CPU with 8GB ROM, and 1GB RAM, It also uses HSDPA 7.2Mbps/HSUPA 5.76 Mbps and 3.5G HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100MHZ. Enjoy Droidz Ultimate with its Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), 9.7” XGA 1024x768 capacitive Touchscreen, multi-touch zoom, dual cameras with 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel for the front camera, plus it has HDMI capability.

Even with these exemplary products, Torque will not stop here and continue its commitment of delivering quality and value for money products for the Filipino consumers. Soon, Torque will introduce its limited edition line dubbed as ‘Inspire’ series. Coming soon!

For the complete price list and information about Torque, visit www.torque.ph.
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Fleur

Fleur (C) AAVedarozaga

Fleur,
take away not thy fragrance
from a loving bee;
for, for a long time, it hast
been seeking for thee,
to taste thy sweet dew
drops without a fee.

Fleur,
let all thy beauty surround
the honest bee;
which now, the sleeping heart
has risen for thee,
and, with unfailing wings
it jumpeth with glee!

Background: 30Jan1999 @ 0145a, misery from embarrassment of a 'Jose Rizal' movie-date rejection from a lady named M***e*n. ;)
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Mizuno 'BE' Voucher Giveaway

A few days ago, Mizuno launched in the Philippine market their training shoe which you can use even on your non-training or just on your ordinary/casual days. The training shoe, called "BE" as inspired by the Waraji sandals activates your muscles for increased foot and lower limb strength.


Just a short seque before we proceed to the raffle mechanics. Have you seen some runner on non-running, non-training days while on their race/running shoes? I bet you did, and maybe, like me, you also wore your running shoes on your casual-attire days and weekend strolls. But do you know that it also lessens the cushion and lifespan of your running shoes? It does because the impact on the shoes is equivalent to running one-thirds (1/3) of the distance that you have strolled, in other words, that's more than 33% of the mileage wasted for your shoes.

I have already used my own pair (thanks to Mizuno Phils.) for the past two (2) days on my 12-hour mall-ratting and roaming within the Metropolitan Park and despite its minimalistic-feature, there was no tired or over-impact feeling on my heels. It was just awkward at first feeling my toes dipping at the activation sockliner but afterwards, it was no longer noticeable.

The "BE" on slacks pants
So, without further ado, here's your very own chance to have your very own pair of Mizuno 'Be' for only half the price. Just follow the three (3) simple steps on the raffle instructions below and you're good to go. The raffle will run starting 12AM of December 11 up to 11:59PM of December 14, 2012 and the winner will be announced within three (3) days.

What are you waiting for? This is a great early Christmas gift for you or your loved one, get to train and strengthen your leg muscles even while indulging on the holiday feast. ;)



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Definition of High Blood Pressure

by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Ninety-one percent of North Americans will develop high blood pressure that puts them at increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and diabetes and premature death. Lowering high blood pressure helps to prevent disease and prolong life. Blood pressure has two numbers: systolic, when the heart contracts, and diastolic, when it relaxes. The heart contraction (systolic) is most important. If your SYSTOLIC blood pressure is greater than 120, you have high blood pressure and should change your lifestyle to lower it. If it is greater than 140, your doctor usually prescribes pills in addition to lifestyle changes.


WHEN TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

Take your blood pressure just before you go to bed at night. Blood pressure is usually lower then and just after you wake in the morning. Blood pressures that do not drop at bedtime or are high when you wake in the morning increase risk for heart attacks and strokes.

SALT

For most people, excess salt intake is associated with high blood pressure and a modest reduction in salt intake for four or more weeks will help lower it somewhat (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. March, 2004;3). However, many people do not develop high blood pressure when they take in large amounts of salt, and most people who have high blood pressure will not have a lowering of blood pressure when they try to restrict salt.

People are classified as salt sensitive and salt insensitive on the basis of whether their blood pressure rises with excess salt intake, but there is no readily available lab test to diagnose those who are salt sensitive. People who are overweight, diabetic or do not exercise are the ones most likely to develop high blood pressure from excess salt intake. These people should restrict salt. Exercisers sweat heavily and usually need to take in a lot of salt to replace their losses.


FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure is associated with higher salt, alcohol or protein intake, and lower potassium, calcium or magnesium intake (Clin Care. Jan, 2002;5(1):9-19). Other risk factors for hypertension include obesity and lack of regular physical activity (European Heart Journal, Dec. 2011;32(24):3081-7).
  • ALCOHOL: Women who take one alcoholic drink a day and men who take two are at decreased risk for high blood pressures. Taking more than that, or binging even occasionally, raises blood pressure.
  • OVERWEIGHT: The fatter you are, the higher the blood pressure.
  • LACK OF EXERCISE: Exercise often lowers high blood pressure.
  • NOT EATING LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated and total fat (DASH diet) lowers high blood pressure.
  • EATING TOO MUCH MEAT. A high-protein diet increases risk of high blood pressure.

Neither caffeine nor nicotine has been shown to cause sustained high blood pressure.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
  • Lose weight if overweight
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and other seeds, and low in saturated fat (red meat) and refined carbohydrates. Avoid sugared drinks and if overweight, reduce your intake of foods made from flour or with added sugars.
  • If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to one drink a day. (A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 2/3rds of shot glass of alcohol)
  • Check your blood pressure just before you go to bed at night

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WFP and UN-Habitat Help Four Cities Prepare For Effects Of Climate Change



MANILA – As thousands of Filipinos in the southern region of the country struggle to recover from the destruction caused by the country’s latest extreme weather event, Typhoon Bopha, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is partnering with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to support the Philippine government’s initiatives in building resilience to climate change.

Under the 12-month partnership “Joint WFP/UN-Habitat Initiative on Philippine Cities and Climate Change Adaptation,” the cities of Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Iloilo – all of which have been in the path of Typhoon Bopha – will be assessed for ecological, physical, and socio-economic risks due to climate change. Local government personnel will receive training in planning and implementing activities that will help their communities adapt to the negative effects of a changing climate.

“This partnership is very valuable to us because our city is highly vulnerable to flooding. It sits at the mouth of the Agusan River, and every time the rainy season comes, floodwaters coming from as far as the Compostela Valley pour out of the river and pose a high risk to the lives of our people who live in the riverside barangays,” says Ferdinand Amante Jr., Mayor of Butuan City.

The four cities were selected based on various criteria, including exposure to natural and climate-related hazards, such as flood, drought, and rising sea levels in coastal areas. Local government commitment to building their capacities to implement adaptation measures were also considered.

“Empowering local governments and communities to adapt to climate change is key to this joint initiative. We hope that this assistance will eventually allow for the inclusion of appropriate climate change adaptation actions in each city’s local development plan,” says WFP Philippines Country Director and Representative Stephen Anderson.

WFP will oversee the implementation of the joint initiative and lead the high-impact community adaptation projects with the local government units in each of the four cities. UN-Habitat will provide technical expertise in climate vulnerability and adaptation assessments, training for local government personnel, and climate change adaptation planning.

“UN-Habitat, together with WFP, is committed to support cities in strengthening their own capacities in participatory risk and vulnerability assessment as the basis for urban planning. Given the increasing urbanization of poverty, cities are becoming the arena where the fight for the achievement of development goals will be won or lost,” explains UN-Habitat Philippines Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo.

The WFP/UN-Habitat partnership is a component of the larger WFP Disaster Preparedness and Response Programme which is generously supported by USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

For more information on the WFP’s work in the Philippines, visit http://www.wfp.org/philippines.
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Lazy, Crisis, Change, Life

I've been catching the lazy-bug lately, lazy blogging, lazy going to sleep early, lazy eating, lazy getting-up early, lazy reading, lazy biking, and lazy training. It seems that the motivation to get into a healthy shape and healthy fitness is becoming out of my league. I feel like I'm getting stagnant since September of this year!

My desk is so cluttered with materials that should've been thrown out already, some magazines that I planned to read but has not gotten the "time" to even browse the pages, discs of movies I wanted to watch, some unused (and expiring) GCs for a fitness break that I once felt interested with, and even my dresser has never been tidied since more than a year already.

Mostly I feel bored, but I don't also want to do something to take myself out of boredom. My previous running has given me the emotional and physical high that made me energetic afterwards and in almost all of my pursuits in life, but lately, it seems that I am no longer contented or even happy about running. Look, I don't even blog my runs anymore, even those where I have achieved my personal best in both the half-marathon (36th Milo Elims, Manila Leg) and the Full-Marathon (1st RUPM). In fact, I don't know what I want to do now! On my lone days while figuring out what's happening to me, I felt that I needed some change, a big change in my life, in every aspect of it. I know it should start as soon as possible, but where and how to start, that's another big question!

No, I think I am not suffering from depression! There were countless of questions I asked myself about some things that previously I thought I know the answer of. Who am I? Where am I going? Another weird thing that I recently felt about myself is that "I may not reach beyond age 40 alive" anymore. But God forbid, I actually want to live my life until I grow old to the age of 80, still running, still climbing mountains, trekking some unknown territories, and sharing these adventures to anyone. I even want to live until the time that I see my Kids having their own grandchildren (my 4th generation), if that would be possible. :)

Anyway, tomorrow will be the 36th Milo Marathon National Finals and I'll be running just a 5K distance - my 3rd 5K for this year. I don't have any plan to give my best shot for this as I have not trained good for the past few weeks (or months) but, I'm just hoping that after this run, I'll be able to get the groove back or realize something that will give me a boost of energy, inspiration, and motivation to face what still lies ahead!



"Life is not about finding who you are, it's about creating who you are."
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Mizuno Launches the BE Casual Training Shoe

Mizuno Philippines has just launched last 6th of December 2012 its new minimalist-type, lightweight and durable training shoe - the Mizuno "Be". Inspired by the Waraji - sandals made from straw rope that were used in the past as standard footwear for the Samurai and Feudal soldiers of Japan, the "Be" aims to "activate your muscles for increased foot and lower limb strength" as what Waraji does.

Protruding toes on the Waraji

During the product launch, Ms. Jai D. Cortes of Master Sports Corporation explained that Waraji sandals were shorter than the feet of those wearing them, making the toes to protrude over the front edge of the sandal which aids in the stabilization of the body - a crucial form for Warriors and working people of Japan. These inspirations were then taken into account towards building the new Mizuno "Be" training shoes together with its other technical highlights such as the activation sockliner which allows the toes to naturally move up and down, and curl and grip - movements that activates the flexor digitorum longus and the flexor hallucis longus muscles situated across the base of our foot. Another technical highlight of the product is its dynamic function heel counter that cups your heel to improve the natural cushioning of the heel's pad fat.

The Mizuno "Be" however, is designed specifically as a training shoe only, targeted to be worn before or after your race, or even on your casual days. I still wonder why but on my own analysis from its unique sockliner design which gives the toes uneven surface than the metatarsal bones/ball of the foot, this might cause chaffing when used for a longer period and much stressful activity. Well, this has to be proven yet! *wink*

Mizuno Philippines also announced their delegates to the recently held 2012 Osaka Marathon last 25th of November. The delegates who represented the Country came from the Jump Start Movement headed by Coach Patrick Joson who was also present during the product launch. Other guests who graced the product launch were the team of Coach Miguel "Ige" Lopez from the RunningWild podcast.

"Wear them when you're not running, to improve performance when you are."

Watch the video below to learn more about the story behind "BE".



Check out also the photos below which were taken during the product launch.

Noelle de Guzman "KikayRunner" hosting the event
Coach Patrick Joson (left) with the MizunoPh Osaka Marathon delegates
Coach Ige Lopez (left) with his co-Runimals from the RunningWild podcast
The Mizuno "Be" collections
A closer look
The outsole design
Do you really think it's a trainer shoe only?

Keep posted on this blog for upcoming Mizuno "Be" voucher giveaway.
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Sigmund Freud and Coca-Cola

by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Most people know that Sigmund Freud was the father of modern psychoanalysis, but did you know that he was also the foster father of Coca-Cola?

There is no good evidence that psychoanalysis can cure serious mood or thought disorders such as severe depression or schizophrenia. Modern psychiatry depends on the use of medications to change brain levels of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that send messages from one nerve to another. Psychotherapy together with medication is more effective than just medication alone.

All papers written by Sigmund Freud, except one, were about his opinions and were not scientifically controlled studies. His only scientific paper was not about psychotherapy. It was about cocaine.

COCAINE: In 1881, Sigmund Freud started experimenting with cocaine. The German army used cocaine to help keep their soldiers alert so that they could function and stay awake for long hours. Freud thought it might help patients suffering "nervous exhaustion".

He sent some cocaine to his fiance, Martha Bernays, saying "In my last serious depression I took cocaine again and a small dose lifted me to the heights in a wonderful fashion. I am just now collecting the literature for a song of praise to this magical substance."

Coca Leaves
Freud desperately wanted to marry Martha, but her parents were rich and skeptical of this young upstart who was presumptuous enough to ask for their daughter's hand. When Freud discovered cocaine, he had high hopes of impressing them with his discovery that cocaine could cure hunger, thirst and depression and even make people feel great. He couldn't wait to announce this new wonder drug to the scientific community, publishing "On Coca" in June 1884.

FREUD DISCOVERS TOPICAL ANESTHESIA: Shortly after publishing his paper, Freud met an ophthalmology intern named Carl Koller. Freud and Koller started taking cocaine themselves. Noticing that cocaine numbed his lips when he drank it, Freud wanted to see what would happen when he put a cocaine solution into patients' eyes before surgery. Koller showed that cocaine could be instilled in the eye to block pain during eye surgery.

When Freud was out of town visiting Martha, Koller published Freud's new discovery without putting Freud's name on the paper and Koller became known as the discoverer of the first local anesthetic for eye surgery. When Freud returned, he became distraught because his great discovery had been stolen from him.


COCA COLA: Meanwhile, Freud's paper on cocaine led to the development of many popular patent medicines based on Freud's claims that cocaine was a safe and useful tonic to treat depression and sexual problems. Across the ocean in Atlanta, Georgia, John Styth Pemberton brought out his own version of a tonic containing cocaine and alcohol, which he called Coca-Cola. People bought his drink and loved what it did to them, but in 1885, the City of Atlanta banned the sale of alcohol. So Pemberton had to change the recipe.

People did not buy the non-alcoholic Coca-Cola as enthusiastically as they bought the alcoholic drink, so Pemberton thought that his drink had failed and he sold his patent to Asa Griggs Candler for a paltry $2,300. That was a lot of money in 1890, and the drink did taste awful. Candler added carbon dioxide bubbles to the drink, and it was an instant success. The energizing and euphoric effects of the cocaine were probably responsible for skyrocketing Coca-Cola into its place as the most popular soft drink in history. (The last traces of cocaine were removed from the Coca-Cola formula by 1929).

So Sigmund Freud, who is known as the father of psychoanalysis, also should be known as the foster father of Coca-Cola.

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Sugared Drinks: Helpful During Exercise, Harmful When You Are Not Exercising

by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

OBESE TEENAGERS who had bottled water and non-caloric drinks shipped to their homes for one year, gained half as much weight (3.5 pounds) as obese children not sent these drinks (7.7 pounds).

NORMAL WEIGHT CHILDREN, 4-11 years old, who drank sugar-free fruit-flavored drinks every day gained 13.9 pounds in 18 months, compared to 16.2 pounds of weight gain for those who drank sugar-sweetened drinks or 100 percent fruit juice from identical cans.

These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society in San Antonio, on September 21, 2012, and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Two-thirds of North American adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Officials with the American Beverage Association claim that obesity is not caused by any single food or beverage, but sugared drinks cause the highest rises in blood sugar, which associates them with obesity and increased risk for diabetes, certain cancers, and heart attacks (Circulation, published online March 12, 2012).

WHY SUGAR IS HEALTHFUL WHEN YOU ARE EXERCISING: Taking sugar during exercise helps you exercise longer and faster, which can help you lose weight, and prevent diabetes, heart attacks, certain cancers and premature death.

TAKING SUGAR DURING EXERCISE CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER ATHLETE. Taking sugar while you exercise increases the amount of training you can do and does not lessen the benefits of your increased training (Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2009). In this study, men trained one leg while ingesting a six percent sugar drink, and on the other leg while taking an artificially sweetened (sugarless) drink, two hours a day, on alternate days, five days a week. The legs trained with sugar had 14 percent more power and a 30 percent greater time to exhaustion.

Athletes in sports requiring endurance need to train in their sport many hours each day. They damage their muscles by taking a hard workout on one day, feeling sore on the next, and then taking less intense workouts for as many days as it takes for the muscles to heal and the soreness to go away. The more intense the training workout without injury, the more intensely they can compete. The longer they can go on their less intense recovery days, the tougher their muscles become to withstand the tremendous forces on them during their hard workouts and during competition.

Anything that can increase the intensity of your hard days or amount of work you can do on your recovery days will make you better in competition. Running out of muscle sugar makes you feel tired, so anything that continues to supply sugar during a workout will help you exercise longer and more intensely. This study shows that taking sugar regularly during workouts allows you to extend the amount of training without lessening the benefits that you receive from the extra work.

Some researchers thought that restricting sugar during training could enhance performance by teaching the muscles to get along with less sugar (Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2009). This is called depletion training. However, the enzymes used to convert sugar and fat to energy function just as well when sugar is taken continuously during exercise. The muscles trained on sugar can store the same amount of sugar and can convert food to energy as well as those trained without sugar.

WHY SUGARED DRINKS ARE UNHEALTHFUL WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXERCISING? A high rise in blood sugar causes sugar to stick to the outer surface membranes of cells. Once there, sugar can not get off. It is eventually converted to sorbitol which destroys the cell to cause every reported side effect of diabetes: blindness, deafness, heart attacks, strokes, dementia, impotence, and so forth.

Sugared drinks raise blood sugar levels much higher than sugared foods. When food reaches your stomach, the pyloric sphincter at the end of the stomach closes to keep solid food in your stomach. It permits only a soupy liquid to pass into your intestines. When you eat solid food such as an orange, it can stay in your stomach for up to 5 hours. On the other hand, orange juice passes immediately into your intestines and then into your bloodstream. So you get a much higher blood sugar level rise after drinking orange juice than you do after eating an orange.

Resting muscles are inactive and can draw sugar from your bloodstream only with the help of insulin. Contracting muscles remove sugar from your bloodstream rapidly and can do this without needing insulin. When you are exercising, contracting muscles remove sugar from the bloodstream so fast that you rarely get a high rise in blood sugar.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE SUGARED DRINKS WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXERCISING?
  • Your blood sugar rises
  • In response, your pancreas releases large amounts of insulin
  • Insulin converts sugar to triglycerides (HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES)
  • Then you use up your good HDL cholesterol in carrying the triglycerides from your bloodstream into your liver (LOW HDL CHOLESTEROL)
  • Triglycerides that are carried to your liver in large amounts cause a FATTY LIVER
  • A fatty liver can lead to DIABETES
  • Diabetes is the most common cause of HEART ATTACKS in North Americans.


HOW DO SUGARED DRINKS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN AND HEART ATTACKS? When blood sugar levels rise too high, your pancreas releases extra insulin in an effort to lower blood sugar levels. Insulin acts directly on your brain to make you eat more. High levels of insulin also constrict arteries leading to your heart to block them and increase risk for a heart attack.

SHOULD YOU TAKE ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED DRINKS INSTEAD? Probably not. A study following 2600 people for 10 years shows that those who drink diet sodas daily are at 44 percent increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. (Journal of General Internal

Medicine, published online January 2012; 27(2):135-263). Less-than-daily consumption of artificially-sweetened drinks was not associated with heart attacks or strokes. Other recent studies have shown that diet soda drinkers are more likely to have high blood pressure and blood sugars. Any sweet taste will turn on the pleasure center in your brain to make you eat more.
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